Friday, May 4, 2012

Hunting and Fishing Licenses Going Up

The price of Minnesota hunting and fishing licenses will increase in
March 2013 for the first time in 12 years.

Gov. Mark
Dayton signed a House- and Senate-approved bill Thursday that raises the cost of an annual resident fishing license from $17
to $22 and a resident deer hunting license from $26 to $30. Most
resident youth hunting and fishing licenses will be $5 or free. Youth
under 16 do not need a fishing or small game hunting license.

License
fee increases were widely supported by hunting, fishing and
conservation organizations. The last general license fee increase was
approved in 2000 and implemented in 2001.

Enacting the license fee bill
maintains the solvency of the state's Game and Fish Fund for the
remainder of this biennium, which ends June 30, 2013. New revenue will
begin to come into the game and fish fund in March 2013. The DNR
estimates the fees will generate about $5 million in fiscal 2013 and
approximately $10 million per year in following years.